Julia Quinn: To Sir Phillip, with love

Julia Quinnin historiallisessa viihderomaanissa kirjeenvaihto johtaa ehdotukseen avioliitosta, mutta odotukset ja todellisuus ovatkin aika lailla erilaisia: To Sir Phillip, with love (HarperCollins, 2017; ISBN 978-0-06-242411-2).



Quinn osaa kirjoittaa huumorilla höystettyä dialogia, ja vaikka ihmishahmoissa on melkoisesti stereotypiaa - juro mies ja puhelias nainen - onnistuu romaani ujuttautumaan pintaa syvemmällekin.

Sir Phillip knew from his correspondence with his dead wife's distant cousin that Eloise Bridgerton was a spinster, and so he'd proposed, figuring that she'd be homely and unassuming, and more than a little desperate for an offer of marriage. Except ... she wasn't. The beautiful woman on his doorstep was anything but quiet, and when she stopped talking long enough to close her mouth, all he wanted to do was kiss her.

Eloise Bridgerton couldn't marry a man she had never met! But then she started thinking... and wondering... and before she knew it, she was in a hired carriage in the middle of the night, on her way to meet the man she hoped might be her perfect match. Except ... he wasn't. Her perfect husband wouldn't be so moody and ill-mannered. And he certainly should have mentioned that he had two young - and decidedly unruly - children, as much in need of a mother as Phillip is in need of a wife.

Julia Quinn: When he was wicked

Julia Quinnin historiallinen viihderomaani löytyi Helmetin e-kirjoista, ja mainoslauseessa kehuttiin että kirjaan oli lisätty uusi epilogi, joten pitihän se tarkistaa: When he was wicked (Avon Books, 2004; ISBN 978-0-06-053123-2).



Olen Quinnin romaaneja aika monta lukenut, ja vaikka ne eivät kovin pysyvää muistikuvaa jälkeensä jätä, on niissä mukavan inhimillinen kertojan ote ja historiallisen ajankuvan tajua.

In every life there is a turning point. A moment so tremendous, so sharp and breathtaking, that one knows one's life will never be the same. For Michael Stirling, London's most infamous rake, that moment came the first time he laid eyes on Francesca Bridgerton.

After a lifetime of chasing women, of smiling slyly as they chased him, of allowing himself to be caught but never permitting his heart to become engaged, he took one look at Francesca Bridgerton and fell so fast and hard into love it was a wonder he managed to remain standing. Unfortunately for Michael, however, Francesca's surname was to remain Bridgerton for only a mere thirty-six hours longer—the occasion of their meeting was, lamentably, a supper celebrating her imminent wedding to his cousin.

But that was then... Now Michael is the earl and Francesca is free, but still she thinks of him as nothing other than her dear friend and confidant. Michael dares not speak to her of his love... until one dangerous night, when she steps innocently into his arms, and passion proves stronger than even the most wicked of secrets.

Julia Quinn: The girl with the make-believe husband

Julia Quinnin historiallisessa viihderomaanissa on huumoria kohtalaisessa määrin. Päähenkilö väittää olevansa naimisissa haavoittuneen ja muistinsa menettäneen sotilaan kanssa, jolla on puolestaan omia salaisuuksia: The girl with the make-believe husband (Piatkus, 2017; ISBN 978-0-349-41054-8).



Romaani on näppärästi kirjoitettu mutta pinnallinen hömppäannos, nopealukuinen ja helposti unohdettava.

While you were sleeping...

With her brother Thomas injured on the battlefront in the Colonies, orphaned Cecilia Harcourt has two unbearable choices: move in with a maiden aunt or marry a scheming cousin. Instead, she chooses option three and travels across the Atlantic, determined to nurse her brother back to health. But after a week of searching, she finds not her brother but his best friend, the handsome officer Edward Rokesby. He's unconscious and in desperate need of her care, and Cecilia vows that she will save this soldier's life, even if staying by his side means telling one little lie...

I told everyone I was your wife

When Edward comes to, he's more than a little confused. The blow to his head knocked out six months of his memory, but surely he would recall getting married. He knows who Cecilia Harcourt is—even if he does not recall her face—and with everyone calling her his wife, he decides it must be true, even though he'd always assumed he'd marry his neighbor back in England.

If only it were true...

Cecilia risks her entire future by giving herself—completely—to the man she loves. But when the truth comes out, Edward may have a few surprises of his own for the new Mrs. Rokesby.

Julia Quinn: Everything and the moon

Julia Quinnin viihderomaanissa kaksi petetyksi tullutta rakastavaista kohtaavat toisensa vuosien päästä, ja tunteen paloa piisaa, tosin alussa enemmänkin kostonhimoa ja häpeäntunnetta: Everything and the moon (Piatkus, 2008; ISBN 978-0-7499-0895-9).



Päähenkilöt ovat kumpikin hiukan ressukoita, elämässään kärsineitä, mutta taitavan puoleisesti kirjailija saa hahmonsa jotakuinkin elämään, eikä hirveästi haittaa että tämä juoni on tullut kerrottua aiemmin satoja kertoja. Huumoriakin piisaa, ja sitten on myös kuu, jolla on oma erikoislaatuinen tehtävänsä tarinassa.

When Robert Kemble stumbles across Victoria Lyndon in a hedgerow maze, he can't believe his eyes. The girl who'd torn him in two, who let him plan an elopement and then left him standing by the side of the road, was suddenly within arm's reach, and even though his fury still knew no bounds, she was impossible to resist.

Victoria's father had told her an earl would never marry a vicar's daughter, and he was right. Robert had promised her marriage, then danced off to London while she suffered the shame of a foiled elopement. But even though Victoria doesn't particularly enjoy her new life as a governess, when Robert offers her a job of a different sort - his mistress - she refuses, unable to sacrifice her honour, even for him.

But Robert won't take no for an answer, and he vows to make her his, through any means possible. Can these star-crossed lovers learn to trust again? And is love really sweeter the second time round?

Julia Quinn: Minx

Julia Quinn tarjoaa monipolvisen historiallisen rakkausromaanin, jossa päähenkilöt punovat jos jonkinlaisia juonia toistensa päänmenoksi: Minx (HarperCollins, 2009; ISBN 978-0-06-174803-5).



Romaanissa parasta lienee napakka dialogi, jossa riittää monenlaista kommellusta ja kompakiveä. Juoni on luonnollisesti melkolailla ennalta-arvattava, mutta toki jonkin verran kiinnostavuutta on siinä missä määrin maatilan eläinten hoitamisessa kunnostautunut nuori neiti oppii seurapiirien tavoille.

It takes a minx to tempt a rogue...

Beautiful and feisty Henrietta Barrett has never followed the dictates of society. She manages her elderly guardian's estate, prefers to wear breeches rather than dresses, and answers to the unlikely name of Henry. But when her guardian passes away, her beloved home falls into the hands of a distant cousin.

And it takes a rogue to tame her...

William Dunford, London's most elusive bachelor, is stunned to learn that he's inherited property, a title... and a ward bent on making his first visit his last.

Julia Quinn: A night like this, The sum of all kisses ja The secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy

Julia Quinnin Smythe-Smith -suvusta kertovassa romaanisarjassa on neljä osaa, joista kolme jälkimmäistä toistavat ensimmäisen osan kaavaa. Kaikissa on musiikilla - ja epämusikaalisuudella - oma roolinsa, ja juonet ovat ennalta-arvattavia, mutta huumoria on sopivasti pehmittämässä kaavamaisuutta, eivätkä teokset ole aivan niin teollisesti tuotetun oloisia kuin tässä kirjallisuudenlajissa harmittavan usein on laita.

A night like this (Piatkus, 2012; ISBN 978-0-7499-5680-6)

On A Night Like This in Regency England, anything can happen, especially when a beautiful pianist sitting in at the annual Smythe-Smith musicale catches the eye of a haunted, hunted man in desperate need of redemption.

The sum of all kisses (Piatkus, 2013; ISBN 978-0-7499-5634-9)

Hugh Prentice has never had patience for dramatic females, and if Lady Sarah Pleinsworth has ever been acquainted with the words shy or retiring, she's long since tossed them out the window. Besides, a reckless duel has left this brilliant mathematician with a ruined leg, and now he could never court a woman like Sarah, much less dream of marrying her.

Sarah has never forgiven Hugh for the duel he fought that nearly destroyed her family. But even if she could find a way to forgive him, it wouldn't matter. She doesn't care that his leg is less than perfect, it's his personality she can't abide. But forced to spend a week in close company they discover that first impressions are not always reliable.

The secrets of Sir Richard Kenworthy (Piatkus, 2015; ISBN 978-0-7499-5639-4)

Sir Richard Kenworthy has less than a month to find a bride. . . He knows he can't be too picky, but when he sees Iris Smythe-Smith hiding behind her cello at her family's infamous musicale, he thinks he might have struck gold. She's the type of girl you don't notice until the second-or third-look, but there's something about her, something simmering under the surface, and he knows she's the one.

Julia Quinn: To catch an heiress ja How to marry a marquis

Julia Quinnin kirjasarjaan Agents of the Crown kuuluu kaksi romaania, jotka eivät liity toisiinsa muuten kuin tematiikan kautta, kummassakin kun on eräänlaista jännärimeininkiä, jota on sotkettu romanttisiin juonenkäänteisiin ja monenlaisiin väärinkäsityksiin niin että romaanin sivumäärä saadaan täyteen. Kevyttä helppolukuista höttöä.

To catch an heiress (Piatkus, 2008; ISBN 978-0-7499-0882-9)

When Caroline Trent is kidnapped by Blake Ravenscroft, she doesn’t even try to elude this dangerously handsome agent of the crown. After all, she’s been running from unwanted marriage proposals. Yes, Blake believes she’s a notorious spy named Carlotta De Leon, but for six weeks until her twenty-first birthday, when she’ll gain control of her own fortune, hiding out in the titillating company of a mysterious captor is awfully convenient—and maybe just a little romantic, too.

Blake Ravenscroft’s mission is to bring “Carlotta” to justice, not to fall in love. His heart has been hardened by years of intrigue, but this little temptress proves oddly disarming and thoroughly kissable. And suddenly the unthinkable becomes possible—that this mismatched couple might be destined for love.

How to marry a marquis (Piatkus, 2008; ISBN 978-0-7499-0880-5)

When Elizabeth Hotchkiss stumbles upon a copy of How to Marry a Marquis in her employer’s library, she’s convinced someone is playing a cruel joke. With three younger siblings to support, she knows she has to marry for money, but who might have guessed how desperate she’s become? A guidebook to seduction might be just the thing she needs—and what harm could there be in taking a little peek?

James Sidwell, the Marquis of Riverdale, has been summoned to rescue his aunt from a blackmailer, a task that requires him to pose as the new estate manager, and his primary suspect is his aunt’s companion, Elizabeth. Intrigued by the alluring young woman with the curious little rulebook, he gallantly offers to help her find a husband… by practicing her wiles on him. But when practice becomes all too perfect, James decides that there is only one rule worth following—that Elizabeth marry her marquis.

Julia Quinn: Ten things I love about You ja What happens in London

Julia Quinn on kirjoittanut kymmenittäin historiallisia viihderomaaneja, ja monet teoksista muodostavat kirjasarjoja. Romaanien Ten things I love about You ja What happens in London taustana on muissa romaaneissa esiintyneiden sivuhahmojen tarinat, kirjailija kun halusi kertoa miten heille kävi. Omaperäisyydestä ei näitä romaaneja voi kiitellä, mutta jonkinlaista myötämielistä huumoria tarinoihin on punottu.

Ten things I love about You (Piatkus, 2010; ISBN 978-0-7499-4194-9)

Sebastian Grey is in limbo. He is the heir presumptive to the Earl of Newbury, unless the current earl, a widower, can find a bride who will bear him a son. Newbury is in his sixties and somewhat portly, but as an earl he's considered quite a catch. Sebastian, on the other hand, is twenty-nine and extremely handsome, but in no hurry to find a wife.

Annabel Winslow, a country girl through and through, has received an offer to go to London for the season. The eldest of a family of eight, she knows that a good marriage might be the only thing that will save her family from ruin. After a few weeks in town, Annabel attracts the attention of the Earl of Newbury. The thought of submitting to him makes her skin crawl, but she is practical and determined to do her duty. Even when Sebastian Grey comes on the scene.

What happens in London (Piatkus, 2009; ISBN 978-0-7499-4189-5)

Olivia Bevelstroke, the only daughter of the Earl of Rudland, is beautiful and has a sizeable dowry. Yet at the age of twenty-one she is still unmarried, causing people to whisper behind her back, 'What is she waiting for? A prince?' But Olivia isn't cold or stuck up, and neither is she a hopeless romantic. She's just waiting for something - or someone.

Sir Harry Valentine, a war veteran, is now back in London working in secret for the War Office and keeping an eye on his wayward younger brother. Rumour has it that he killed his fiancee, which intrigues Olivia. She thinks her new next-door neighbour looks the part, and even if he isn't a murderer, he's certainly up to something. Then a real-live Russian prince comes to town, sparking intrigue. He has his eye on Olivia, but so does Harry, who's been ordered to spy on the prince - and thus by extension, Olivia. But will what he finds out about her bring her closer to his heart?

Julia Quinn: Splendid ja Dancing at midnight

Julia Quinn aloitti kirjailijanuransa kahdella romaanilla, Splendid ja Dancing at midnight, jotka päätyivät julkaistuksi hänen pyrkiessään opiskelemaan lääketiedettä. Kirjailijan työ vei mennessään eikä opiskelusta lopulta tullut mitään.

Romaanit ovat paikoitellen kulmikkaita, tarinan kuljetus hiukan tökkii ja historiallinen ajankuva ei ole uskottava, mutta melko mukavasti kirjailija hahmojaan käsittelee, ilmiselvästi hänellä on ollut kertomisen iloa romaaneja kirjoittaessaan.

Romaanisarjaan kuuluu kolmaskin teos, Minx, mutta sitä kirjastosta ei ollut saatavilla.

Splendid (Piatkus, 2010; ISBN 978-0-7499-3912-0)

There are two things everyone knows about Alexander Ridgely. One, he's the Duke of Ashbourne. And two, he has no plans to marry anytime soon.

That is until a redheaded American throws herself in front of a carriage to save his young nephew's life. She's everything Alex never thought a woman could be—smart and funny, principled and brave. But she's a servant, completely unsuitable for a highborn duke—unless, perhaps, she's not quite what she seems.

American heiress Emma Dunster might be surrounded by Englishmen, but that doesn't mean she intends to marry one—even if she has agreed to participate in one London Season. When she slipped out of her cousins' home, dressed as a kitchen maid, all she wanted was one last taste of anonymity before her debut. She never dreamed she'd find herself in the arms of a dangerously handsome duke... or that he'd be quite so upset when he discovered her true identity. But true love tends to blossom just when one least expects it, and passion can melt even the most stubborn of hearts.

Dancing at midnight (Piatkus, 2009; ISBN 978-0-7499-3913-7)

Lady Arabella Blydon has beauty and a brain, and she’s tired of men who can see only one without the other.

When a suitor tells Arabella he’s willing to overlook her appalling bluestocking tendencies on account of her looks and fortune, she decides to take a break from the Marriage Mart. During an extended stay in the country, she never expects to meet Lord John Blackwood, a wounded war hero who intrigues her like no other man.

Lord John has lived through the worst horrors of war… but nothing could have been as terrifying to his tormented heart as Lady Arabella. She is intoxicating, infuriating… and she makes him want to live again. Suddenly he’s writing bad poetry and climbing trees in the pitch-dark night… just so he can dance with her as the clock strikes midnight. And even though he knows he can never be the sort of man she deserves, he can’t help wanting her. But when the harsh light of day replaces the magic of midnight, can this tormented soul learn to love again?

Julia Quinn, Eloisa James ja Connie Brockway: The lady most likely ja The lady most willing

Julia Quinn, Eloisa James ja Connie Brockway ovat kirjoittaneet yhdessä kaksi romaania, joista kummassakin etsitään kilvalla puolisoa, ja romaanien lopussa on monet häät tiedossa ja lapsiakin tulossa. Tarinat ovat sujuvia, mutta saman reseptin toistaminen useaan kertaan tuntuu puisevalta jo yhdenkin romaanin sisällä, kahdesta puhumattakaan.

The lady most likely... - a novel in three parts (Avon, 2011; ISBN 978-0-06-124782-8)

Hugh Dunne, the Earl of Briarly, needs a wife—so his sister hands him a list of the very best young ladies on the market. And then, because he refuses to tear himself away from the stables where he trains Arabian racehorses, she invites all those ladies to a house party, along with some other bachelors, of course. So who will Hugh choose? The Botticelli-esque, enchanting Gwendolyn? The outspoken, delightful Katherine? If he doesn't work fast, he'll lose those ladies to his closest friends, and then where will he look for a wife? Perhaps, just perhaps, toward a lady who's not on a market at all, and would require a great deal of persuading.

The lady most willing... (Piatkus, 2013; ISBN 978-0-7499-5781-0)

During their annual Christmas pilgrimage to Scotland to visit their aged uncle in his decrepit castle, the Comte de Rocheforte and his cousin, Earl of Oakley, are presented with unique gifts: their uncle has raided an English lord's Christmas party and kidnapped four lovely would-be brides for his heirs to choose from ...as well as one very angry duke, Lord Bretton. As snow isolates the castle, and as hours grow into days, the most honourable intentions give away to temptations as surprising as they are irresistible.

Julia Quinn: Just like heaven

Julia Quinn tarjoaa kevyen viihdekertomuksen, jossa musiikkiesityksen lomassa yritetään saada aikaan naimakauppoja, mutta asiat eivät suju ollenkaan niin kuin on tarkoitus: Just like heaven (Piatkus, 2012; ISBN 978-0-7499-4199-4).



Kuvaus Smythe-Smithin perheen traditiosta järjestää joka vuosi musiikkiesitys, jossa perheen neljä nuorta naimaikäistä naista esiintyvät, on kohtalaisen hauska, eritoten koska soittotaitoa ei esiintyjillä juurikaan ole, ja jos jollakulla esiintyjistä musikaalista taitoa onkin, sitä kauheampaa on tietää miten kammottava esitys tulee olemaan. Mutta perinteen pitää jatkua, vuodesta toiseen.

Honoria Smythe-Smith, the youngest daughter of the eldest son of the Earl of Winstead, plays the violin in the annual musicale performed by the Smythe-Smith quartet. She's well aware that they are dreadful. In fact, she freely admits (to her cousins) that she is probably the worst of the bunch. But she's the sort who figures that nothing good will come of being mortified, so she puts on a good show and laughs about it.

Marcus Holroyd is the best friend of Honoria's brother Daniel, who lives in exile out of the country. He's promised to watch out for Honoria and takes his responsibility very seriously. But he has his work cut out for him when Honoria sets off for Cambridge determined to marry by the end of the season. She's got her eye on the only unmarried Bridgerton, who's a bit wet behind the ears. When her advances are spurned, can Marcus swoop in and steal her heart in time for the musicale?

Julia Quinn: The viscount who loved me

Julia Quinn tarjoilee 1800-luvun Englantiin sijoitetun romanttisen viihdykkeen, jossa pikkusisartaan varjeleva isosisko päätyy naimisiin päättäväisen sulhaskandidaatin kanssa: The viscount who loved me (Avon, 2015; ISBN 978-0062353641).



Bridgerton-perheen vanhin poika Anthony on päättänyt mennä naimisiin saadakseen pojan, jolle jättää perinnöksi suvun kartano ja muu omaisuus. Morsiameksi hän valitsee Edwina Sheffieldin, jota pidetään seurapiirien tavoiteltavimpana neitona. Mutta Edwinan isosisko Kate on sitä mieltä, että Anthony on kaikkea muuta kuin kelvollinen puolisoksi hänen siskolleen, ja päättää estää avioliiton keinolla millä tahansa.

Anthony ja Kate päätyvät tilanteeseen jossa kummankin maine on pilalla, ellei tilannetta korjata pikaisella avioliitolla. Niinpä tämä taistelupari huomaakin olevansa aviopari, eikä yhteiselo ala erityisen lupaavissa merkeissä.

Romaani on kevyttä viihdettä, mutta ei hassummin kirjoitettu, ja sivuhahmoissakin on hiukan enemmän sisältöä kuin tämän tyylilajin kirjoissa yleensä.

Julia Quinn: The lost duke of Wyndham jne.

Julia Quinn on tehtaillut tusinoittain viihteellisiä rakkausromaaneja, ja niitä löytyy Helmetistä niin painettuina kuin e-kirjoina, ja mikäpäs sen helpompaa kuin e-kirjan lainaaminen kun haluaa selvittää mistä näissä romaaneissa oikein on kyse.

Kevyttä viihdettä pitkälle tuotteistettuna, sitä näissä kirjoissa on, ja henkilöhahmojakin kierrätetään oikein olan takaa sillä romaaneissa käydään läpi samojen sukujen rakkaustarinoita, perheenjäsen kerrallaan: Wyndham, Smith-Smythe, Bridgerton, ...

Tarinat ovat ennalta-arvattavia ja tavattoman helppolukuisia, viihdettä kevyimmillään. Huumoria on kohtalaisesti, ja 1800-luvun englantilaisen yläluokan touhuista löytyy riittävästi kummasteltavaa kannattamaan höttöisenpuoleisia juonia.

Taisin olla vähällä väärinkäyttää Helmetin e-kirjastoa, sillä lainasin monta kirjaa kerrallaan, selasin niitä läpi, ja palautin kirjat hetikohta. Jouduin hetkeksi myös jäähylle, sillä järjestelmä ilmeisestikään ei salli tämän kaltaista käyttöä, minkä takia jouduin odottamaan seuraavaan päivään ennen kuin pääsin jatkamaan tutustumiskierrosta.

Kirjoissa on teollisen tuotannon makua, erityisesti kohtauksissa joissa paljastetaan pintaa. Jos nämä kohtaukset vaihdettaisiin kirjasta toiseen, huomaisiko lukija mitään? Opin nopeasti hyppimään kyseiset kohdat yli, sillä niissä ei ollut juurikaan mitään mikä kertoisi jotain olennaista kirjassa kuvattujen ihmisten elämästä.

Tosin useimmissa kirjoissa ei ollut erityisen omaperäistä tai oivaltavaa sisältöä muuallakaan tekstissä. Muutama kirja osoittautui poikkeukseksi, mutta ikävä kyllä en enää muista mitkä ne näistä selatuista kirjoista olivat.

The lost duke of Wyndham (HarperCollins, 2009; ISBN 978-0-06-173727-5)





Mr. Cavendish, I Presume (Avon Books, 2008; ISBN 978-0-06-087611-1)





A night like this (Piatkus, 2012; ISBN 978-0-7499-5680-6)





Romancing Mister Bridgerton (HarperCollins, 2004; ISBN 978-0-0617-9292-2)





When he was wicked (Piatkus, 2006; ISBN 0-7499-3662-2)





Brighter than the sun (Piatkus, 2008; ISBN 978-0-7499-0892-8)





To sir Phillip, with love (Avon Books, 2003; ISBN 978-0-380-82085-6)





On the way to the wedding (Piatkus, 2007; ISBN 978-0-7499-3690-7)





The secret diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever (Piatkus, 2007; ISBN 978-0-7499-3832-1)





It's in his kiss (HarperCollins, 2005; ISBN 978-0-06-174542-3)